Maier, Bridgestone Win 1st Sponsor Shootout Autocross

Hayward, California’s Mike Maier won the Goodguys 1st Sponsor Shootout AutoCross in Columbus, Ohio today driving his wife’s blue ’66 Ford Mustang. The special AutoCross was a highlight during closing day of the Goodguys 14th PPG Nationals presented by Bridgestone at the Ohio Expo Center. Maier, representing his long time sponsor Bridgestone, defeated Kyle Taylor’s BF Goodrich sponsored ’70 Camaro in the final round to take home the $5,000 first prize.

The special event, run on a 12 car elimination ladder format attracted a national cast of drivers and muscle cars. As the competition heated up in front of a capacity crowd several key matchups unfolded including two husband and wife elimination races (Stacey vs Kyle Tucker and Mary vs David Pozzi).

At the end of the competition, Tucker and Maier stood toe to toe in what promised to be a titanic runoff. The final featured plenty of sub plots. It was a Ford vs Chevy, Bridgestone vs BF Goodrich and East vs West. When the dust settled it was Maier taking a hard earned win with a 32.442 to Tucker’s valiant 32.570 – his best run of the day.

“It feels good,” said Maier as he congratulated Tucker after their race. “This entire group of drivers is awesome. Every corner was critical today. It was close.” In the semi’s, Maier unleashed the race’s best lap clicking off a smooth 32.318.

Maier’s Mustang features a newly installed Roush Yates Nationwide 358ci NASCAR engine backed by a NASCAR spec 4-speed manual gearbox from C&R Racing. The engine is cooled by a custom radiator from C&R Racing. For the Sponsor Shootout, the car utilized a slightly new front suspension from Maier Racing, including shocks from JRI and a newly designed tubular A-arm/coil over set up. The rear suspension is also of Mike Maier’s own design which uses a laid over coil over in the trunk, with a Watt’s Link and Torque Arm.

The Goodguys Sponsor Shootout AutoCross will return in 2012 here in Columbus